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Tinea pedis
How to determine if it's athlete's foot on the hand
Athlete's foot, medically known as tinea pedis, is a fungal infection. If someone with tinea pedis scratches their feet with their hands, they can transfer the fungus to their hands, resulting in tinea manuum, which is characterized by peeling skin on the hands. However, there are two common conditions that lead to hand peeling. One is tinea manuum, a fungal infection of the hands, often spread from tinea pedis. The other condition is eczema, so it is necessary to differentiate whether the symptoms are due to tinea manuum or eczema. Patients with tinea manuum typically have the infection on two feet and one hand; usually, only one hand is affected initially, not both hands symmetrically. If it is difficult to differentiate, it is advisable for patients to undergo a fungal examination at a hospital, which can confirm the diagnosis if the result is positive for fungus.
Can soaking feet in ginger cure athlete's foot?
Soaking feet in ginger can effectively treat athlete's foot, but it requires a longer duration. If the soaking time is too short, it will not be effective in treating athlete's foot and needs to be carried out over a long term. Generally, it is recommended to soak for about 15 to 30 minutes—neither too long nor too short. Soaking for too short a period will be ineffective, and soaking for too long may cause some negative effects, so extra attention is needed. Regular foot soaking also benefits the body by promoting blood circulation, unblocking meridians, and improving physical constitution.
Can soaking feet in white vinegar cure athlete's foot?
Using white vinegar for foot soaking is not a treatment for athlete's foot, which is an infection caused by dermatophyte fungus, commonly known as tinea pedis. Standard and effective antifungal treatments are required. It is necessary to enhance foot hygiene, frequently change socks and shoes, keep the feet dry and ventilated, and use antifungal medications such as oral terbinafine hydrochloride tablets. Apply antifungal creams like luliconazole cream and miconazole cream to the affected areas. Adequate dosage and course of treatment are needed to prevent the recurrence of symptoms, often requiring continuous application for more than three weeks. Athlete’s foot is prone to occur in summer as fungi thrive in warm, moist environments. Therefore, cleanliness is considered a fundamental caregiving measure. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a physician.)
Can soaking feet in vinegar cure athlete's foot?
Athlete's foot, also known as tinea pedis, is a condition caused by skin fungal infections affecting the superficial layers of the skin on the feet. For treatment, one can opt for antifungal ointments, and when necessary, oral antifungal medications, which are very effective in killing fungi. However, using home remedies like soaking feet in white vinegar, salt water, or applying garlic locally is not advisable. These do not effectively kill the bacteria and can instead damage the skin barrier and irritate the skin, potentially causing symptoms such as redness, flaking, and itchy sensitivity. If the concentration of vinegar is too low, it is ineffective; if too high, it can be intolerable for the skin. Therefore, if you have athlete's foot, it is best to opt for proper antifungal medications and ensure treatment for a sufficient duration.
Can athlete's foot blisters be popped?
The term "athlete's foot" refers to the common name for tinea pedis, a skin infection caused by dermatophytes. It can manifest as various types of skin lesions, such as blisters. In cases like blistering athlete's foot, it is important to enhance local cleanliness of the blistered area while avoiding harmful actions such as forcibly picking or squeezing, to prevent secondary bacterial infection of the wound. Symptomatic treatment with antifungal agents is necessary, including oral itraconazole capsules and other antifungal medications. For topical treatment, applying a wet compress of boric acid solution followed by triamcinolone acetonide econazole cream, or a compound Cannale cream can be used, but these should be applied for a short term only. If symptoms improve after three to five days, the treatment should be switched to antifungal creams such as ketoconazole cream or terbinafine cream, with a treatment period of at least two weeks.
What should I do if my athlete's foot is very itchy?
Athlete's foot, also known as tinea pedis, can manifest as intense itching of the skin. First, it is necessary to enhance the cleanliness of the foot skin, avoid various irritating causes, and provide standard and effective antifungal symptomatic treatment. Oral antifungal medications such as itraconazole or terbinafine can be used, and various antifungal ointments can be applied to the affected area, such as the commonly used naftifine-ketoconazole cream, terbinafine cream, luliconazole cream, and miconazole cream. The treatment should last more than two weeks to avoid the recurrence of symptoms. Everyday, it is necessary to frequently change shoes and socks, maintain dryness, ventilation, and good breathability, and avoid dampness. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)
The difference between beriberi and athlete's foot
Beri-beri and athlete's foot are two entirely different diseases. Beri-beri is a nutritional deficiency disease caused by a lack of vitamin B1 in the body, leading to inflammatory neurological disorders, other neurological diseases, or heart disease. Treatment requires supplementation of vitamin B1, either through injections or orally. On the other hand, athlete's foot is a fungal skin infection, commonly known as "foot fungus." It is caused by a fungal infection of the skin on the feet, leading to congestion, edema, itching, and pain. The treatment for athlete's foot primarily involves the use of antifungal medications, either oral or topical.
Should the peeling skin be removed after using medication for athlete's foot?
After applying medication for athlete's foot, you should not peel the skin off with your hands, as this can damage the surrounding tissue and potentially lead to further infections, acute lymphangitis, lymphadenitis, or erysipelas. When inflammation is obvious, it may also trigger localized eczematous changes or a systemic bacterial rash. There are two possibilities for peeling after medication: one is that the peeling is caused by the primary disease, such as hyperkeratotic tinea pedis, in which case strong desquamating agents like compound benzoic acid ointment can continue to be used. If necessary, occlusive dressings may also be applied. If the peeling is not caused by athlete's foot itself but by irritation from the medication, such as erosive soaking tinea pedis treated with 3% boric acid ointment that has dried out, then stop using irritating and strongly desquamating medications. Instead, it is recommended to use creams and ointments. (Please use medications under the guidance of a doctor.)
What are the symptoms of athlete's foot?
Athlete's foot is caused by a fungal infection, and this disease is quite contagious and recurring. Generally, the earliest symptoms appear on the bottoms of the feet or between the toes, including itching, peeling, and blisters. If the symptoms are severe, there may also be erosion, exudation, or oozing. Athlete's foot is highly contagious and may spread to other parts of the body over time. It may also be transmitted to family members, and as the condition progresses, the toenails may gradually develop fungal nail infections. Therefore, once you have athlete's foot, you must actively seek standardized treatment, applying antifungal creams. Bath basins or foot towels at home should be used separately from those of other family members to prevent cross-infection. It is advisable to wear breathable shoes frequently, and shoes and socks that have been worn should be sun-dried and disinfected.
Can iodophor treat athlete's foot?
Athlete's foot, commonly known as tinea pedis, is an infection caused by dermatophyte fungi. Antifungal medications are required for symptomatic treatment. However, iodophors, as disinfectants, do not have a therapeutic effect on athlete's foot. Daily enhancement of foot hygiene, frequent changing of shoes and socks, and maintaining a dry and ventilated environment are important. Laboratory examinations, including scraping skin scales from affected areas for microscopic examination of fungi, are necessary. A positive laboratory result further supports the diagnosis of tinea pedis. Treatment involves the application of antifungal creams such as naftifine and ketoconazole. To adequately control symptoms and prevent recurrence, it may be necessary to take oral antifungal medications, such as terbinafine hydrochloride tablets, itraconazole dispersible tablets or capsules, for a treatment course of more than 2 weeks. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)